By TONY MUSISI
A businessman in Uasin Gishu County has been charged before an Eldoret court with allegedly obtaining Sh634,900 from a trader by false pretences.
Julius Okondoi Ikaal is accused of obtaining the money from Charles Kyalo with intent to defraud him by pretending that he was in a position to sell him a motor vehicle.
He allegedly committed the offence on diverse dates between January 26 and March 31, 2026, within the Republic of Kenya.
Ikaal also faced a second charge of issuing a bad cheque. The court heard that on April 24, 2026, in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County, he issued a cheque for Sh634,900 drawn from a Diamond Trust Bank account, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account when the cheque was presented for payment.
Ikaal pleaded not guilty to both charges when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah.
According to court documents, Kyalo approached Ikaal after the businessman expressed interest in selling him a vehicle.
The two are said to have entered into a sale agreement, after which Kyalo paid the agreed amount. However, the accused allegedly failed to fulfil his part of the bargain.
The matter prompted the complainant to report Ikaal to the police, who arrested him.
He was subsequently processed and arraigned in court, where he was charged with obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code, Cap 63.
The accused pleaded with the magistrate to grant him reasonable bond or bail terms, arguing that he was not a flight risk.
In her ruling, Wattimah ordered that Ikaal be released on a bond of Sh200,000 with one surety of a similar amount.
The magistrate also granted him an alternative cash bail of Sh100,000.
“Since you are a first offender, I will admit you on a Sh200,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh100,000,” Wattimah ruled.
The prosecution has lined up three key witnesses who are expected to testify against Ikaal during the trial.
The case will come up for mention on September 21 before Court 4 for further directions.
